EVENT INFORMATION
Save the Date!! April 5, 2014 is our spring workshop/master class!
And please print out copies of the flyer and spread them around to your students and anyone else who might be interested!
We are highly pleased to have baritone Eugene Villanueva present our spring master class this coming April 5th, and thankful to Bonnie Brooks for letting us know of this special opportunity for our chapter! Eugene is having a remarkable professional career so far (check out the attached flyer or his website-also listed on the flyer), and he will be based out of northern California for several weeks this spring as he does his West Coast recital tour.
A particularly nice human interest angle...Eugene studied voice with Bonnie Brooks when he was in high school! After that, he went on to work with several other notable teachers, including Marilyn Horne, Thomas Hampson, Leo Nucci, Renato Bruson, Mirella Freni, Giuseppe Sabbatini, and Donata D’Annunzio Lombardi.
Master class details...
1. Eugene will plan to work with six students from our chapter: three from SSU, and three from independent vocal studios. This master class will be geared toward more advanced students. So please have your best students start polishing a couple of their Italian art songs so that they'll be ready for you to nominate for participation in this master class.
****More information on the nomination process to follow soon...also, the room location at SSU is still to be decided.
2. The master class focuses mainly on the Italian style, tradition and interpretation. Participants would have an opportunity to learn and identify many of the essential Bel Canto techniques found in some of the most beloved Italian songs, which will ultimately serve the maturation and development of their vocal technique!
3. Appropriate repertoire for this master class can include the 17th and 18th century Italian art songs, or Donizetti, Bellini, Donaudy,etc. However, if your students already know or are willing to learn an art song by F. Paolo Tosti, please have them prepare that. Eugene likes to coach singers on Tosti rep because he is widely regarded in Italy as the best composer-teacher of technique and style for Bel Canto, Verdi and Verismo.
Here are a few suggested Tosti song titles for your consideration:
Ideale
Sogno
Non t’amo più
Tristezza
L’ultima canzone
La serenata
A vuchella
Ridonami la calma
Preghiera
L’alba separa dalla luce l’ombra (Quatto canzone d’Amaranta)
Che dici, o parola del saggio (Quattro canzone d’Amaranta)
Vorrei morir
Chitarra Abruzzese
Ave Maria
English alternatives:
In the Hush of the Night
Goodbye!
Pierrot’s Lament
First Waltz - Canto Popolare Abruzzese
Hello Redwood Empire chapter members,
I hope you all got a chance to read the "Save the Date" email that went out several days ago. We feel like we have a very special opportunity with our spring workshop this time, in that our presenter Eugene Villanueva is a highly impressive up-and-coming young baritone in the process of building an international performing career, and thus will have many valuable insights to share with all of us as we watch him work with our students!
This occasion has an even more special angle because it's a case of 'local boy makes good!" Eugene grew up in Rohnert Park and still has family there; our colleague Bonnie Brooks was his first voice teachers back in high school!
The location will be Green Music Center, Room 1028, at SSU. The updated flyer with this information is attached.
The workshop will heavily emphasize style and interpretation, but will also include some technical tips when they can be helpful.
Here's how to nominate your students to participate in the master class (keep in mind that this is an excellent opportunity for your male students to coach with a man!):
1. Please nominate only your advanced, 'moving towards a career' students. (Since we try to gear our spring workshops toward us teachers for purposes of increasing our knowledge and exposing us to more pedagogical tools for our studio work, we'd like the nominees to be at a high enough level of technique and artistry that they can quickly respond to this professional's technical guidance and interpretive ideas, and we teachers can then learn from observing that.)
2. Please choose an Italian art song (if possible, Tosti is encouraged!) or aria that's not too long, since that will mean more in-depth time to work on the song. Eugene will only have about 25 minutes to work with each singer, and would like to cover as much artistic ground as possible in that time.
3. Using a smartphone, please video-record your student singing the Italian art song that they would wish to work on at the master class. Email the video clip to either Susan Witt-Butler ([email protected]) or Vaida Falconbridge at [email protected]. The nominations will be forwarded to Mr. Villanueva who will make the final choices.
4. The deadline for submitting video nominations is Monday, March 24. Six singers will be selected from the nominees and announced via email to the entire chapter by Wednesday March 26. Three students from SSU will participate, and three from independent studios. Eugene will also see these video nominations and help select the students he will work with.
(Note: private coaching sessions with Eugene Villanueva also available.) We anticipate getting quite a few nominations for this master class, and not everyone will get the chance to coach with Eugene on April 5. However, he will be in the area for a several weeks this spring, and is available for private coaching sessions at very reasonable rates. If you would like more information on this, please let me know, and I can put you in touch with him.
Best regards,
Vaida
SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION FEBRUARY 8
National Association of Teachers of Singing
Redwood Empire Chapter
NATS Vocal Scholarship Auditions - Saturday, February 8, 2014
Ives Hall, Sonoma State University
REGISTRATION FORMS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JANUARY 24, 2014
Rules for Entrants
1. You must have studied with your current teacher for a minimum of five months. However, if you have studied with this teacher for less than 8 months and studied with another teacher during the past year, you must list this teacher as well.
2. All music must be memorized. A maximum of ten minutes is allowed per student.
3. The decision of the judges is final. Judges may or may not award prizes, at their discretion. If a parent or teacher contacts any judge regarding a student’s performance, the student will automatically be disqualified.
4. You and your accompanist must dress appropriately. You must arrive at least 15 minutes early to register.
6. Winners must participate in the Winners’ Recital Sunday afternoon, February 23 at 5:30 p.m. in order to win the cash prize. The recital will be in Ives Hall, Sonoma State University.
7. Previous winners may not enter the same division in which they have won first place. They may enter the next
division when they qualify by age, or they may enter Division VI for evaluation only.
8. Cash prizes are awarded at the judges’ discretion, especially if a division has less than 3 participants.
9. Students must provide one original copy of music for each song.
2. Classical Folk Song (including classic gospel)
3. Musical Theater (legitimate stage)
4. Operetta/Opera/Oratorio (Opera arias must be appropriate to age group.)
Division I (Ages 10-14) First Prize $100 Second Prize $50
Division II (High School Ages 15-18) First Prize $200 Second Prize $100
Division III (after HS Ages 18-22) First Prize $300 Second Prize $200
Division IV (Ages 23-29) First Prize $300 Second Prize $200
Division V (Ages 30 and up) First Prize $300 Second Prize $200
Division VI (All ages) Evaluation only
Note: Prizes are awarded at the discretion of the judges. Disqualification will result if any of these rules are not followed.
REGISTRATION FORMS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JANUARY 24, 2014
National Association of Teachers of Singing
Redwood Empire Chapter
NATS Vocal Scholarship Auditions - February 8, 2014
ENTRY FORM
Please print/type:
Name________________________________School____________________________Birthdate_______________
Address______________________________City_______________________Zip_______Phone_______________
Voice Classification___________________________ Age at time of audition____________ Division___________
Name of teacher ________________________________ Name of accompanist_____________________________
Length of study with current teacher______________(a min. of 5 months as of Feb. 1, 2013)
If less than 8 mo. with current teacher, have you studied with another teacher during the last year?________
If yes, whom?_______________________________________ Where?___________________________________
For how long?____________________ Total length of study with all teachers__________________________
Repertoire: Title Composer Exact Duration
1.___________________________________________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________________________________________
List songs in the order you plan to sing them. *PLEASE STAR THE ART SONG SELECTION. Singers should be prepared to announce their pieces.
Note: To fulfill copyright requirements, you must bring an original copy of each song to the audition. (You may send a photo copy to your accompanist for rehearsal purposes.)
I have read the information and understand the “Rules for Entrants”. (Be sure to retain a copy of the rules.)
Signatures: Entrant________________________________________________________________________
Teacher______________________________________________________________________
Parent (if entrant is under 18)______________________________________________________
Return application and $25.00 non-refundable application fee (made out to NATS Redwood Empire Chapter) to your teacher who will mail it to: Marilyn Simpson
532 N. School St.
Ukiah, CA 95482
ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JANUARY 24, 2014 National Association of Teachers of Singing
Redwood Empire Chapter
To the Teachers: NATS Vocal Scholarship
1. The Vocal Scholarship Audition is Saturday, February 8, 2014 in Ives Hall, Sonoma State University
from 10:00 a.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend but should plan to come
and leave only between divisions. Students MUST arrive at least 15 minutes early to register.
2. Please read the rules and repertoire requirements carefully, and be sure your students understand them. Your
student entrants must have studied with you for a minimum of five months. Only students of Redwood Empire NATS teachers in good standing are eligible. To be in good standing, a member must have paid dues for the current year, attended at least one NATS event and participated in fund-raising.
3. Please photocopy both the student application form and rules sheet as needed. Be sure student retains a copy of “Rules for Entrants”. NOTE: All entry forms must be returned to you. Be sure all information is correct before you sign the form: birth date is accurate, Art Song is starred, the order in which songs will be sung is correct, there are exact times for the songs, etc. YOU MUST SEND ALL ENTRIES TOGETHER IN ONE PACKET, with checks to Marilyn Simpson, postmarked by January 24, 2014.
and preferably go over tempos on the phone with Yvonne (510-828-3896) or Richard (415-717-2940).
6. Note: To fulfill copyright requirements, students must bring an original copy of each song to the auditions. They may send a clear photo copy to the accompanist for rehearsal (no scans or emails).
7. Teachers will receive their students’ evaluation forms with judges’ comments at the end of the day or by mail.
8. Applications must be postmarked by January 24, 2014 and must be sent to:
Marilyn Simpson
532 N. School Street
Ukiah, CA 95482
9. The Winners’ Recital will take place Sunday February 23, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. in Ives Hall, Sonoma State University. All singers who place will be invited to sing at the recital. The first- and second-place winners MUST sing at the recital in order to win their cash prizes.
I hope you all got a chance to read the "Save the Date" email that went out several days ago. We feel like we have a very special opportunity with our spring workshop this time, in that our presenter Eugene Villanueva is a highly impressive up-and-coming young baritone in the process of building an international performing career, and thus will have many valuable insights to share with all of us as we watch him work with our students!
This occasion has an even more special angle because it's a case of 'local boy makes good!" Eugene grew up in Rohnert Park and still has family there; our colleague Bonnie Brooks was his first voice teachers back in high school!
The location will be Green Music Center, Room 1028, at SSU. The updated flyer with this information is attached.
The workshop will heavily emphasize style and interpretation, but will also include some technical tips when they can be helpful.
Here's how to nominate your students to participate in the master class (keep in mind that this is an excellent opportunity for your male students to coach with a man!):
1. Please nominate only your advanced, 'moving towards a career' students. (Since we try to gear our spring workshops toward us teachers for purposes of increasing our knowledge and exposing us to more pedagogical tools for our studio work, we'd like the nominees to be at a high enough level of technique and artistry that they can quickly respond to this professional's technical guidance and interpretive ideas, and we teachers can then learn from observing that.)
2. Please choose an Italian art song (if possible, Tosti is encouraged!) or aria that's not too long, since that will mean more in-depth time to work on the song. Eugene will only have about 25 minutes to work with each singer, and would like to cover as much artistic ground as possible in that time.
3. Using a smartphone, please video-record your student singing the Italian art song that they would wish to work on at the master class. Email the video clip to either Susan Witt-Butler ([email protected]) or Vaida Falconbridge at [email protected]. The nominations will be forwarded to Mr. Villanueva who will make the final choices.
4. The deadline for submitting video nominations is Monday, March 24. Six singers will be selected from the nominees and announced via email to the entire chapter by Wednesday March 26. Three students from SSU will participate, and three from independent studios. Eugene will also see these video nominations and help select the students he will work with.
(Note: private coaching sessions with Eugene Villanueva also available.) We anticipate getting quite a few nominations for this master class, and not everyone will get the chance to coach with Eugene on April 5. However, he will be in the area for a several weeks this spring, and is available for private coaching sessions at very reasonable rates. If you would like more information on this, please let me know, and I can put you in touch with him.
Best regards,
Vaida
SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION FEBRUARY 8
National Association of Teachers of Singing
Redwood Empire Chapter
NATS Vocal Scholarship Auditions - Saturday, February 8, 2014
Ives Hall, Sonoma State University
REGISTRATION FORMS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JANUARY 24, 2014
Rules for Entrants
1. You must have studied with your current teacher for a minimum of five months. However, if you have studied with this teacher for less than 8 months and studied with another teacher during the past year, you must list this teacher as well.
2. All music must be memorized. A maximum of ten minutes is allowed per student.
3. The decision of the judges is final. Judges may or may not award prizes, at their discretion. If a parent or teacher contacts any judge regarding a student’s performance, the student will automatically be disqualified.
4. You and your accompanist must dress appropriately. You must arrive at least 15 minutes early to register.
- There is a non-refundable $25.00 entrance fee for each division. To use our accompanist, you must get a copy of both
6. Winners must participate in the Winners’ Recital Sunday afternoon, February 23 at 5:30 p.m. in order to win the cash prize. The recital will be in Ives Hall, Sonoma State University.
7. Previous winners may not enter the same division in which they have won first place. They may enter the next
division when they qualify by age, or they may enter Division VI for evaluation only.
8. Cash prizes are awarded at the judges’ discretion, especially if a division has less than 3 participants.
9. Students must provide one original copy of music for each song.
- You must prepare two songs, memorized. Be prepared to announce each song and the composer. One song must be in English. For Divisions II-VI, the other must be in a foreign language. (Division I may choose English or a foreign language for the second song.) For all divisions, one song must be an art song. The other song may be:
2. Classical Folk Song (including classic gospel)
3. Musical Theater (legitimate stage)
4. Operetta/Opera/Oratorio (Opera arias must be appropriate to age group.)
Division I (Ages 10-14) First Prize $100 Second Prize $50
Division II (High School Ages 15-18) First Prize $200 Second Prize $100
Division III (after HS Ages 18-22) First Prize $300 Second Prize $200
Division IV (Ages 23-29) First Prize $300 Second Prize $200
Division V (Ages 30 and up) First Prize $300 Second Prize $200
Division VI (All ages) Evaluation only
Note: Prizes are awarded at the discretion of the judges. Disqualification will result if any of these rules are not followed.
REGISTRATION FORMS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JANUARY 24, 2014
National Association of Teachers of Singing
Redwood Empire Chapter
NATS Vocal Scholarship Auditions - February 8, 2014
ENTRY FORM
Please print/type:
Name________________________________School____________________________Birthdate_______________
Address______________________________City_______________________Zip_______Phone_______________
Voice Classification___________________________ Age at time of audition____________ Division___________
Name of teacher ________________________________ Name of accompanist_____________________________
Length of study with current teacher______________(a min. of 5 months as of Feb. 1, 2013)
If less than 8 mo. with current teacher, have you studied with another teacher during the last year?________
If yes, whom?_______________________________________ Where?___________________________________
For how long?____________________ Total length of study with all teachers__________________________
Repertoire: Title Composer Exact Duration
1.___________________________________________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________________________________________
List songs in the order you plan to sing them. *PLEASE STAR THE ART SONG SELECTION. Singers should be prepared to announce their pieces.
Note: To fulfill copyright requirements, you must bring an original copy of each song to the audition. (You may send a photo copy to your accompanist for rehearsal purposes.)
I have read the information and understand the “Rules for Entrants”. (Be sure to retain a copy of the rules.)
Signatures: Entrant________________________________________________________________________
Teacher______________________________________________________________________
Parent (if entrant is under 18)______________________________________________________
Return application and $25.00 non-refundable application fee (made out to NATS Redwood Empire Chapter) to your teacher who will mail it to: Marilyn Simpson
532 N. School St.
Ukiah, CA 95482
ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JANUARY 24, 2014 National Association of Teachers of Singing
Redwood Empire Chapter
To the Teachers: NATS Vocal Scholarship
- The Scholarship Audition offers students and teachers opportunities to hear singers perform at all stages of development.
- Written evaluation is provided by qualified judges.
- Monetary prizes (intended to be used to further musical education) will be awarded to singers on the basis of merit. Judges may or may not award prizes, at their discretion.
1. The Vocal Scholarship Audition is Saturday, February 8, 2014 in Ives Hall, Sonoma State University
from 10:00 a.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend but should plan to come
and leave only between divisions. Students MUST arrive at least 15 minutes early to register.
2. Please read the rules and repertoire requirements carefully, and be sure your students understand them. Your
student entrants must have studied with you for a minimum of five months. Only students of Redwood Empire NATS teachers in good standing are eligible. To be in good standing, a member must have paid dues for the current year, attended at least one NATS event and participated in fund-raising.
3. Please photocopy both the student application form and rules sheet as needed. Be sure student retains a copy of “Rules for Entrants”. NOTE: All entry forms must be returned to you. Be sure all information is correct before you sign the form: birth date is accurate, Art Song is starred, the order in which songs will be sung is correct, there are exact times for the songs, etc. YOU MUST SEND ALL ENTRIES TOGETHER IN ONE PACKET, with checks to Marilyn Simpson, postmarked by January 24, 2014.
- We need all members at the event, even if you have no students performing, as there are many jobs that need
- The non-refundable application fee is $25 per student, whether or not they use our accompanist; the fee
and preferably go over tempos on the phone with Yvonne (510-828-3896) or Richard (415-717-2940).
6. Note: To fulfill copyright requirements, students must bring an original copy of each song to the auditions. They may send a clear photo copy to the accompanist for rehearsal (no scans or emails).
7. Teachers will receive their students’ evaluation forms with judges’ comments at the end of the day or by mail.
8. Applications must be postmarked by January 24, 2014 and must be sent to:
Marilyn Simpson
532 N. School Street
Ukiah, CA 95482
9. The Winners’ Recital will take place Sunday February 23, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. in Ives Hall, Sonoma State University. All singers who place will be invited to sing at the recital. The first- and second-place winners MUST sing at the recital in order to win their cash prizes.